Protective apparatus for athletes



D. LEvlNsoN 1,757,640 PnoTgzqrlvE- APPARATUS Fon ATHLETES -Filed Feb. 14, 1927 2 sheets-sheet, 1

Il'lllll :mum-:nan: "Illuu May May 6, 1930. D. I EvlNsoN PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR ATHLETES Filed Feb. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 of pieces of strong, closely wovenfabric 54 and 55 and including elastic tension means 56 for holding the same closely upon the limb of the player. The pieces of fabric 54 and 55 are of substantially trapezoidal `shapebeing slightly wider toward the* top 57 to accomn modate the increasing taper of the limb. The

pocket 53 may be formed by the stitching 58 outlining a substantiallyv rectangular pocket isprovided with a plurality of alignedaperetures `60 whichmay be providedy withmetal eyeletsbut whichare preferably buttonholed in orderl to eliminate hardmetallic sur-faces near the body of the wearer. 1 The elastic Vtension means 56'comprise's a wideband 61 of strong elastic fabric, preferably consisting of rubberthreads woven withina cover ofl a'stretchable fabric. The,

elastice band 61 extends from a point near the bottom of the guard supporter to a point near the top, being ofV substantially the same width I" as the'length of the high guard itself which is 55 by any convenient method of'stitching, but

contained within the pocket 53 in order that the guard may be closely supportedupon the limb of the wearer at all times. 4The elastic maybe attached tothe fabric 54 and I prefer -to usethe'method shown in Figure i Y of the'elastic 56 isinserted between the end 5, in which two edges ofthe fabric'54and 55 areturned in in theusual manner, the edge folds, under which the elastic 56 is folded l down upon the fabric 54 `and thefwholefixed of fabric.

together by a single line of stitching Vpassing through two plies ofelastic and four plies The uppercorners of the fabricl 54 and 55 mav be beveled as at 62 from the upper'edge of the elastic toward the edge of the pocket 53 in order to eliminate loose corners of fabric', and if desired theV outerV portion of the fabric at 63 between the stitchesV 58-and 59 n may be left open at the top. to form an auxiliary Vpocket for. additional padding along -the side ofthe thigh. The :pocket 63- may be Y wider lthan that shown in Figure3, if desired,

and may be filled with a strip of sponge-like rubberof substantially theV same thickness or slightly less' than the edge-64 ofthe thigh guard 65. i

`-tially rectangularcurved piece'of iberbo'ard upper inside corner 67 .beveledslightly to or other relatively light andstiif `material having its corners rounded as at 66 and the 'avoid interference with lthe trunk of the The ber board 70 is preferably coated with shellac orthe like for the purpose 'of increasing its Waterproofing;qualities, and

The external edge of theV fiber board 70 is i provided withy a plurality of spaced perforations for ythe purpose of permitting the stitching72, landvit will be obvious that the perforations maybe spaced a distance equal 4to the spacing for which the sewing apparatus may be set. Theedge of kthe fiber board 70 maythen be lprovided with padding means in the form of a strip offelt 73 folded about both sidesof the edge of the fiber board, and'in `order'to protect the felt 73 from the edge of the fiber board, which is often quite sharp, a

desired and the whole fixedtogether by a line of stitching. 72 extendingY completely about the fiber board 70, the endsz of the felt being 'slightly overlapped as at 75.

strip Vof fabric tapev 74 may be interposed' be- Vtween the felt and the fiber board wherever As the fiber board is curvedabout a ver- Y tical Vaxis it will be Vobserved that the side the flanges upon a channelled member and no reinforcing is required in this direction. kIn order lto reinforce the thighV guard against flattening or against furthercurvature, I

provide tension reinforcing kmeans 69 which comprises a light and fiat tension member extending yacross the front of the guard as at 76 about' the guard and across the back thereof as at 7 7 The tension member 69 is preferably tenil:

' edges of the thigh guard 65act somewhat like vided with a pail-.of apertures 81 and S2 lo cated at each' side of the guard just withinthe edge'of the padding 7 3, through which Y the tension member passes. vVhile the ten? sion'memberV 69'may be made of leather, fab- 'ric or. many other materials which are both light and of the required tensile strength, I prefer to use a thin stripof ordinary steel strap on account of the great tensile strength,

relative thinness and light weight of the samef. 1

, The co-op'eration of myreinforcing member with the liber board 70 is as follows z When thefiber board 70 is subject to strains n which tend to further curve the fiber board,

it willbe'observed that the strain of this force l g v is placed upon the portion 76 of the tension i yThe thigh-guard 65' consists ,of a Vsubstany .rivets 7 8' and 80, bears tightly lagainstthe.

curved side of the fiber board, the fiber board being in compression while the stra-p7 6 is 4in tenslonfIn theV case; of stresses tending to flatten the curved fiber board 70, theportions 77 of the tension member are placed'in fur-V ,fasteningofthe tension member G9 -to-the ,preferito have thefinternal pgortions' curved:

`ther Atension 1 -wh-ifleltlie :boar:

`-ineihed shown lof passing thetension niemiber complet-ely? about the parts of the iiber board ito be reinforced permits the permanent .jiibe-r board by afsinallinulnber of rivets. It `desrrerl, gthe internal portions-T7 of therein- 'forenng njlleinber 1n ay be jdraW-ntaut across the Zare of fthe curvedperticns of the vtlber board .between'theriyets sos-that they v,will be in v:po-4

sition to resistfiattening forces at once, but I so `as to lieilataga-inst the guard at all points.

.;ain awaretliatf -protective guards heure been reinforced by yinet-al `nieinbers which are adapted to :resist cli-anges of curvature of the guard solely becauseot their stiliness, andi` de-Sire :it toibo understood that Whilelpreier to use yatensioninernberiof steel strap niy'iir .ventionis not limited-to ,the use otinetal inembers nor does myv reinforcing member coopera-te with the gua-'rd in theinanner o'jstif .bracing members nnd-enfieirnrewhich are necessari-ly of considerable Weight in lordertol ,lojbtafl` y,the desired stiiiening qualities.

it should also be Iobservedthat by ineans of Ia plurality of fastening rivets my tension Iinernheris ,disposed in relatively close `posh 'tion to the ber board *of the Guard so that the tension -inernber `cannot l touch the :limb ofthe wearer and the curvature of the guard Y may be made substantiall f concentric to ,that

4o "adapted ,not only to protect the limb from of the lirnb -to Whic ir it is to be applied, so that the Aguard may `bear against the lirnb .solely at its exterior edge which lis protected `bythe felt paddingh. The padding 73 is :the sharp edges of the liber board but. it is also adapted toprotect the clothing i'roin wthe. enterioredges of the fiber board, andthe relativelythinreinforcing inernber 69 is disposed Within the :projecting vedges 83 of felt YAYpadding both on fthe inside and outside of the guard, where it cannot injure therplay'e f.

For further protection, however, airadditionalielt pad 73a may be-fastenedtofthe liber .board over the tension members 77 lby stitching,l or other convenient fasteningl means. Q

The thigh guard may be inserted Within the pocket 53 of the thigh guard supporter illustrates the guard for the right leg. The Y leg may be inserted Within a tube like aperture provided by the fabric 54V and the elastic 57, and the elastic being stretched to iorin a larger aperture, the thigh guard supporter may be slid into place with the thigh guard 65 disposed upon the forward part of the thigh and the elastic V56 extending about the back of the leg and holding all parts of the Vsupporter- :Witliout projectingA seamsiivhich,

thigh n ',iserlves tofcleseztheend ofthe pocket 53 thereby retaining thethigh guar-Id 65 'in fixed position Within the-pocket. Iifdesired, additional fabric and thigh guard closely'against-theleg.

ft should befnoted'that the 'inethodo forining theseainbetween the elasticandff inight produce discomfort to the wearer. l" Tl e thigh guard supporter is thusnoapable of being independently supported/upon ftheV leg of tlieffplayer-bytheelastic and when the upper edge-57 of the thigh.guard'sup-p I5 porter is laced to'the kgirdlenll by ineans `ot' l"the apertures 52 and (iO'the thigh guardsup- :porter performs the addition al :function of holding down the girdle whichinightother- .fatirthe *bottomof fthe thigh `guard kssup- -wise tendito sliderupward. The double rows ,80

yapertfuies-far-lso:-' 'rovide adjuStable-nieans 'srfforsthe relative -rp'osi-tions :otsthe girdle v@and 1'.thigh guard siipportergwhile the apertures porter proyide inea-nsffor supporting thef'knee 5, 85

V,pad l'f'?, 'llliezrlacing :86 which attaches the .guardsupporter' to the girdle rllalso ineans holding the thigh guard in the pocket fniay be :provided in the form `of* apertures in ithe fabric 54, apertures in the 'fibreboa-rd ,70 'and aser L Jarateglacing passing through the K While prefer to support my rthigh guards i Afas shown, lIdesire it to be understood that l thewguard may also be Asupported in pook- Vets yupon,fthewfomsball trousers, vor the football trousers-*may kbe provi-ded Withv race-f Ways consisting" of strips 4ot tape having buttonholed eyelets and the fabric 54 and T55 et `,thepoclret may. likewise be. provided With vbuttonholed apertures along the side v seams 59 for the purpose of lacing the pocket within ytheftrousersl,A Ii desired?, the Yelastic 56 may also'fbe inade -adjustable su-bstitutingan appropriate racetray for one of the seams 84 Y fillet thftenslion of :the elastijmaihead- .i

i. tedby lacing. Y. It Willfthus 'be' yobserved that I hai/evinvent-ed: a. protective k,harness for athletic pur- L loses Which is Y Y bodfy of' tb'eplayer andwhich supported indep'ndidently"oftronsersorr any other gar- "reentsjr` lhilefseparate units of rnyharjness adaptedtoflt closely upon the are capable ib'eing" usedl alone, the 'harness is* preferably used inits1 entiretyas the thigh `guard supporterfperorins' an'a'clditiona'l fune.

1. "tioninmaintaining thegirdle iin .properposi-jl in the position shown 1n `liigure 3, which 'reason "or" the fact that I" eniployfa vtension bracing member which'neay bever-y light andv th-in as distinguished from the 'thighiguards employing nieinbers Which brace virtue ot their` stiffness, My thighguardis also ino-re eectiyely padded so as toproteet the Y Weaver', en@ the-frayer@ with Whole he amer 1 1 come contact, as well'as preventing the cutting or tearing. of the clothing worn with the thigh guard.

'l .VV'hile I havefillustrated and. 4described a speciicV embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be-made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth but desire togavail myself of all changes within the scopeof the appended claims.y

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: l

l. In a guard,iarcurved`;frame of ber ing a plurality offapertures kin'its edge, a strip of felt` curved about the edge of said frame, stitching passing through said apertures and both edges of said felt, and iieXible means located within the arc of said felt, whereby said flexible means is maintained outof contact with the vbodyY of, the wearer and tensioned between diHerent pointson the curved surface of said frame vto reinforce the same. 1 V

2. In a guard, a curved framek of ber board of substantially oblong shape and having a pluralityof apertures in'its edge, a strip of felt! curved about the edge'o'f said frame, stitching passing throughsaidapertures and both edges of said felt, means tensioned betweendifferent points on the curved surface f of said frame to reinforce the same, a fabric pocket to receive said guard, and tension means on said pocket supporting said guard on the body of alwearer. l

3. In a Iguard. a `supporting `device com- Drisino' a pocket formed of fabric and open at the ton. elastic'means extending from two edges'of' said pocket about a limb of the wearer. said pocket having' a pluralitv lof spaced apertures through:v both sides of the same along the tonl edge, and lacing for clos- Vinfr` said'nocket and securing the same to an-v 1 other garment.

` 4. In a guard, the `combination of a curved frame member of relatively stiff material with a flexible steel tension" member extending transversely to said frame member and secured thereto at a point between the edges of said curved member. said tension member beiner located on the outside curved surface of said curved member to reinforce the latter sidesaidicurved'sheet being adapted to resist flattening of. said guard. v

6. Ina guard, the combination of a relatively stif curved sheet with a tension member passing transversely about a part of said curved sheet and secured thereto at a point between the edges thereof, the part of said tensionmember outside said curved sheet being adapted to resist further curvature, and the part of said tension memberV inside .f said curved sheet being adapted to resist flattening of said guard, and meansfor protect# ing the edge of saidV guard and spacing said guard'lfrom thebody of the wearer to prevent contact with said tension member. 7. In a guard, thecombination of a relatively stiff curved sheet withfa tension member passing transverselyabout a part of said v y curved sheet and secured thereto at a point between the edges thereof, thepa'rt of said tension member outside said curved sheet being adapted to yresist further curvature, andthe part o f said tension member inside said curved sheet being adapted to resist flattening of said' guard, and means for protecting the edge Vof said guard and spacingsaid guard from theY bodyof the wearer to prevent contact with said tension member, comprising arstripwof padding curved about the edge of said guard' and secured thereto.

8. 'In a guard, theV combination of a relatively stif curved sheet with atension memb'er'passing transversely about a part of'said curved-sheet and secured Athereto at a point Vbetween. the'edges thereof, the part of said tension member outside said curved sheet being adapted toresist' further curvature,

and the part of said tension'member inside said curvedV sheet being adapted to resist flattenin of said guard, means for protecting the edge of said guard and spacing saidguard from the -fbody of the wearer to pre- Y vent contact with said tensionv member, comprising 'a strip of padding curved about the' edge ofsaid guard and secured thereto, and

a support comprising a fabricA pocket'andia i broadfelastic band forming an elastic'sleeve vfor securing said pocket onV the 4limb of" a wearer.y w

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of February, 1927.

` DAVID VLEVINSON.

against strains tending to produce further curvature. v

5. In a guard, the combination ofv a relatively stiff curved sheet with a flexible steel tension member passing transversely about a ture, and the part of said tension member in- .part of said curved sheet and secured thereto 'f at a point between the edges thereof, the part `of said tension member outside said curved lsheet being adapted to resist further curva- 

